Apple to open new R&D center in Ra’anana, Israel in 2H13, staffed by over 100 former TI employees

Following a successful hiring spree of former Texas Instruments employees in Israel, Apple is opening a new research and development center in the city of Ra’anana, reports Israeli business publication “Globes.”

This news aligns perfectly with our own predictions back in December: we wrote that Apple would construct a new R&D center in the city of Ra’anana, but only if it got enough engineers on board.

Competition from Intel to hire former TI employees threatened this development — Intel had reportedly offered “healthy compensation packages” in order to lure engineers to the company — but it looks like Apple was successful in its attempts; Globes reports that Apple apparently nabbed 100-150 employees to staff the new development center. Our sources, however, have informed us that the number of employees currently stands at “almost a hundred,” with plans to add more.

According to our sources, Apple plans to open the new R&D center in the city in “the second half of 2013.” This will be its third in Israel, as Apple already operates R&D centers in both Haifa and Hertezliya.